-WHEN THE STARS THREW DOWN THEIR SPEARS,
-AND WATERED HEAVEN WITH THEIR TEARS,

The other mare, who introduced herself as Impazienza, did not seem fazed by Daedra’s harsh, cold tone. She was glad of it. Daedra was never warm and welcoming, even with those that she liked, and she had no patience with those who were either offended or intimidated by her bluntness.

The girl, Impa as she apparently liked to be called, was quick to get to business. The lack of idle chit-chat pleased Daedra once again. She did not know how to make conversation unless there was a purpose behind it, and any attempts to do so on the parts of others did not usually get very far.

From the way that the girl spoke, fluent and confident, Daedra could guess that she held some kind of position of importance within the band of mares that called this rocky mountain their home. But she would not pry just yet, it did not matter much to her anyway – if this Impa proved worthy of her respect then she would be granted it, title or no title.

A small smirk twisted her lips at Impa’s words.

“Ah, I enjoy my fair share of oppression as much as the next girl,” she replied, her tone darkly playful. “But I thought perhaps it was time for a change.”

Disclosing no more than that, she thought back to Vercingetorix, the nameless brute that had battered her, and of course the red shadow that she had followed here. Had they oppressed her? Maybe. They had been cruel to her in their own ways, but then she had been cruel to them too.

Daedra turned her attention back to Impa, blinking her dark eyes slowly as she tilted her head in curiosity. She rested her weight on one side, her still slightly too bony hip jutting out a little more.

“So,” she said, her tone remaining cool but still with a hint of mischief beneath the silky surface. “Is there any crazy initiation ceremony you like to have potential applicants complete? Must I bring you the still-beating heart of some stallion, perhaps?”

The smirk remained.

DID HE SMILE HIS WORK TO SEE?
DID HE WHO MADE THE LAMB MAKE THEE?